An ugly eyesore: I fervently hope that whoever vandalized Norma Minnis' house is caught and punished appropriately--preferably by having to remove the graffiti with paint remover and a toothbrush (Buzz, by Patrick Williams, July 15). That sort of behavior has no excuse.
BUT!!! The story is just a tad one-sided. The Triangle Club is a part of the Old Lake Highlands Neighborhood Association, despite what they might want you to believe. The triangle belongs to the neighborhood, not just to the few households at Peavy and Van Dyke streets.
The crape myrtles had been there for probably 25 to 30 years at least. I don't remember them ever being kept at only 31 inches high, but then, I've "only" lived in the neighborhood since 1987. Whoever planted them originally planted too many and planted them too close together. The strand needed to be thinned out and shaped--not cut to the ground. The Triangle Club did this without permission from the city of Dallas parks department. It was done without the knowledge and permission of the neighborhood association. It was done on the sly, a sneak attack if you will. It was wanton destruction, just as ugly and uncalled for as the vandalism of Norma Minnis' house.
The claim that "few complained" is an inaccurate understatement. Outraged uproar is more like it. Most area residents are furious that a few homeowners who want nothing between them and a view of the lake have destroyed something beautiful and created an ugly eyesore.
As of now, there is no resolution. The association officers have attempted to resolve this amicably but have met only resistance and a complete lack of cooperation from the Triangle Club.
Jo Francis Byrd
Old Lake Highlands Neighborhood Association
Dallas
Hot, Sexy, Rich People
Sweet envy: I enjoyed all hell out of your piece ("The Beautiful Ones," by Eric Celeste, July 8). Stories like this are too often written from a bitter, envious perspective, leaving readers to assume that the writer is a defective. While your take captured some envy (which is human), it remained good-spirited and pleasant.
By the way, what was the age cutoff at the Latin club? I'd hate to think I'm brushing against it...
Brian Johnston
Via e-mail
What do you really think?: Re: your cover story "The Beautiful Ones":Who the fuck cares?
Courtney M. Alieksaites
Dallas
Up all night: I grew up in Dallas and just loved your article. I thought it was a perfect description of the night scene in Dallas. Thanks for the chuckle!
Nerissa Ellis
Prime Crime
San Antonio
Mean and personal: I've disagreed with reviews in the Dallas Observer before and chalked it up to taste differences, but "Dare Call It Prime" (by Mark Stuertz, July 15) I not only disagree with, I think it's mean, incorrect and highly degrades the overall professionalism of the paper. Charolais a handsome space? It was dirty and bug-infested. Your writer clearly does not understand meat ratings and so should refrain from including comments about them. I've eaten at G.F. Prime and experienced none of the issues mentioned, had great food and great service. If the writer did not like his food, he could have written criticism that gave the reader real information instead of coming off mean and personal. We finally get a restaurant with some interest to the décor and menu, and your paper kicks it in the proverbial ribs, potentially continuing the condemnation of Dallas to boring restaurants. Have you eaten in New York City, Chicago or L.A. lately? Dallas is ridiculously boring in comparison. Instead of kicking the restaurant for something different, how about applauding it for that and then giving some constructive criticism if there are specifics that could be improved? It will be a long time before I pick up an Observer again!
Cheryl Weaver
Via e-mail
Toon Man
Important stuff: For the past two issues I've been looking for the cartoon "This Modern World." Unless dementia is setting in, a distinct possibility, it's not in the Dallas Observer anymore, right?
Why would you choose lame material like "The City" or "Red Meat" over the best alternative cartoon in the nation? Answer: poor taste. No surprise there.
Sure, Jim Schutze writes important stuff about how Ron Kirk is still a self-dealing, conflict-of-interest-riddled creep/lobbyist and how the business "establishment" are deadbeats who use the city as their own personal cash register. Cha-ching cha-ching. Keep writing about it, but it's not exactly news.
The rich really are different. They often don't pay their bills, and it doesn't bother them one bit. And it's probably all perfectly legal. But what about important stuff like cartoons?
William Winston Newbill
Arlington
Editor's note: "This Modern World" hasn't been dropped. Each week, we run as many cartoons as we can with the available space.
The Anti-Moore Festival
Room for all of us: Thank you very much for your fair (albeit reluctantly), unbiased reporting on the American Film Renaissance Institute (Buzz, by Patrick Williams, July 8). I am not a fan of Michael Moore's, but I would not support a boycott, either. We need the balance. I am a moderately conservative Republican, a Dallas indie-film producer and talent agent. I've been in the business all my life, literally. This industry belongs to all of us as productive, not destructive, contributors. I have contacted Mr. Hubbard at the AFRI concerning their festival. I welcome them as a positive addition to the film community. We shouldn't convince others of the perceived error of their ways and waste time proselytizing. I, too, prefer to support projects promoting my interests, beliefs and agendas instead of attacking someone else's. Great reporting.
Linda McAlister
Waxahachie
